The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund
Introduction to Grant Projects
Arimune Munakata, Associate Professor, Division of Science Education and Environmental Education Center, Miyagi University of Education
An educational approach to encouraging the rebuilding of sustainable coastal ecosystems in devastated areas
Research grant
- Project Description
While the national government and other bodies are promoting the restoration of fishing ports, roads and other infrastructure in devastated areas, there is a need for a framework regarding the recovery of fisheries and their underlying ecosystems, for residents in the affected areas to keep these ecosystems sustainable over the long term. In this study we will gain an understanding of the state of destruction of river and coastal ecosystems, and encourage the conservation and propagation of fish species, centering on the schools that are currently working in this area. In addition, from the relationship with these educational activities, aim to set up an education for sustainable development (ESD) framework to promote sustainable activities relating to those natural resources that were outstanding prior to the earthquake disaster.
- Fields
- Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
- Grant year
- FY2011 Research Grants
- Grant term
- 3 years and 3 months
July 2011 - September 2014
- Grant amount
- 11,790,000 yen
- Activity region
- Miyagi Prefecture: Kesennuma City, Sendai City, Japan
Overview of the Organization
- Representative
- Arimune Munakata, Associate Professor
- Profile
- Specialist fields
Fish behavior physiology, environmental education, ESD (Education for Sustainable Development
Affiliated academic societies
The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, East Japan Fish Ecology Study Group, The Society of Biological Sciences Education of Japan
Background
Gained doctorate (agriculture) at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo. Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 1999 to 2003. Transferred to the Division of Science Education, Miyagi University of Education. Associate professor from 2007. From 2007 to the present: visiting faculty member, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University. Concurrently a faculty member of the Environmental Education Center, Miyagi University of Education from 2011 onwards. - WEB site
- http://fish.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/
- Research record
- Mainly ecological and behavioral studies of salmonid fishes. In addition, am working on education for sustainable development (ESD) in relation to fish species. Recently, I have been involved in the raising and release of baby Oncorhynchus masou (a rare salmon species) at schools in the Hirose River basin region of Sendai City. My main research results include "Touhoku Chihou no Kishou Sake-rui Sakuramasu no Hozen o Suishin suru Kyouiku-gai-dzukuri Katsudou no Kentou" (Investigation of education / town development activities promoting conservation of rare salmon species Oncorhynchus masou in the Tohoku district). My major paper is "Involvement of sex steroids and thyroid hormones in upstream and downstream behaviors in masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou," Aquaculture, 2011. This is a proposal for conservation activities targeting the use of the natural resources of the Hirose River, especially tourism of the river and fisheries. Bulletin of the Miyagi University of Education (2010).